Hydraulic cleaner for drains and the like



J. LEYDEN March 2, 1943.

'HYDI RAULIC CLEANER FO'R DRAINS AND THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1941 ll/ll/ll!! ll n e WM Ev ML m E aO mbl 3 .5 JY B Patented Mar. 2, 1943HYDRAULIC CLEANER EOR Joseph Leyden, Marshall, Mich. e e i et e M sh-19.41, S a 8. 291

6 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to hydraulic devices, and in itsspecific phases to plunger type devices for breaking up obstruc'} tionsin drain pipes and flushing same therethrough.

The ordinary procedure used in the past for opening clogged drain pipeshas been to either take the pipe apart and clean it, run a hose orflexible cable through same, or use a plunger of the type commonlyreferred to as the plumbers friend. Complex devices using pistons or thelike which slidably fit the interior of the end of the clogged pipe, ora cylinder attached thereto, have been proposed, but apparently have notbeen a commercial success. The complexities of such apparatus and theshortcomings of the devices of the ordinary plunger type, as well assubstitutes for same,

showed the need of an improved drain opening device and led to thedevelopment of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provisionof a simplified, easily constructed, and readily operated apparatusadapted to break up accumulations in drainpipes and force same out ofthe pipe to the sewer main, or other connection thereto.

Another object is to provide a drain opening apparatus which not onlyemploys hydraulic pressure equal to the conventional watersystempressure, but also makespossible the increasing of such pressure bypulsating action. A further object is to provide a simplified devicewherein water is supplied to the clogged drain under pulsating androtary flow, thusincreasing the outward scouring pressure of the flowingwater due to the centrifugal action involved.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention willappear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out theinvention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one ofvarious ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 shows a partially sectioned vertical view illustrating apreferred form of the device of-the present invention in appliedposition.

Figure 2 showsanadapterforming a remova le. swim qfa e se d ee u ab e eeanecting. threadedfaiicets'thereto.

While "he device which embodies .the present in ti ri s d fili b tf en fin cleaning or? r rc ngout pipeline obstruct us,

nud e cd iddd 'r 'i bd di d i s Q n; a d also to improvethe sealingaction "thereof; The

upper and or apeiof Tenn" lfis provided with a hollow extendingne'ck 3into which hollow tube 4 extendsand is fastenedlin place with alsuitableclamp Passage ay '6' connects the interior of plunger cup IQtheinteriorpf the end of hollow tube 3; for fluid ffiowi therebetween.Joined tothe up er endof hollow tube 4 by means of ds orthe likefi's ashort 'nipple T e wered?! lil i l is m dda bev e w prxn a sea n b valv mm e 9 which may be inthe form ofa ball bearing. Su ab e.m e s'mar ad r lew' n l m e movement 9 fifY i m m e n he ndbf ol ow. ube 4' and f h e-$0c o l sh n thi purp s is 1 n lfl h preferably'eggtends completelythrough hollow tube 4 for purposes of stability. "Aflx'ible'tube l hichmy belated f rm of ru be b ie' h like 99 9Q d h free an bf n l l I bymeans of clamp [2 or the quivaiem; "The o her n o v .95? l 'l is fe l ibv-6011191111.?

member 1. brmedds 3f e 116st am "F s mn di d ensiru twn nd 'q a' te iniond pre su e rinn ng ty o p in member isuse lchefioupling me berfrietio a ly ri the ar 9 w ich it s d 'dtin d and he m'dmed thr fl i rtexer e insid oi the ou in i i cfe it frictional grip on such member.Wherethe device is to be connected to a conventional thre de u e the adat 15 Gli i is ut i ed s p r Of the assem l b? as the body I! of theadapter I6" is inserted into the o en a d o c l id n me er L3,. an iinternal y t ea ed can i8 s swerve Q P h threaded snou ;L o :fa 15?when? al i .iaucet ha a plaid dammed-dd spent; dddnie fthe rethroughinto drain pipe 22.

through hollow tube 4 so as to absorb the torque exerted by the spirallyflowingfiuid. The upper.

end of spiral member 23 may also be used as a stop for valve member 9 inthe place of pin ID.

This spiral flow of the fluid delivered from hollow tube 4 causes sameto flow in like direc.-.

tion after reaching the interior of plunger cup I, and to continue suchrotary movement under flow into drain pipe 22. In order to facilitatethis curved path flow, strainer 2| is preferably removed at the start ofthe drain cleaning operation. This rotary fluid movement presents theadvantages of outward pressure due to centrifugal action, thus not onlyincreasing the scouring and cleaning action on the drain pipe, but alsoproviding what may be termed a live boring action which again helps inopening and flushing'the clogged system.

A conventional size of apparatus of the type illustrated and suitablefor use in opening pipes, such as sink drains, involves the use of afiveinch diameter heavy rubber plunger cup mounted on a piece of inchbrass or galvanized pipe approximately fifteen inches long, the upperend of which has a inch brass nipple-threaded thereinto. A suitablelength piece of standard inch hose is used to join the upper end of thisnipple to the coupling member l3 which in turn is adapted to beconnected to a conventional faucet either directly or by means-of anadapter I6 where the faucet spout I9 is threaded for attaching a hosecoupling. The lower end of nipple acts as a stop for valve member 9 andin preferred construction allows same to move endwise of hollow tube 4 adistance approximately in the range of t; inch to A; inch. Underplunging action the back flow of fluid through hollow pipe 4 carriesvalve member 9 up against the lower end 8 of nipple I to form a tightseal therewith. The spiral member 23 is preferably formed from arust-proof material such as heavy strip brass or bronze which has beentwisted or otherwise formed as shown. The number of spiral turns in thisstrip for a given length thereof determines to a large extent the rotarymotion of the fluid as it passes into plunger cup I and flows Suitablefaste ling means such as rivets 24 preferably of A;

to inch diameter are used to hold spiral memin stabilizing spiral member23 against twisting motion.

In operating the device for opening a sink drain or the like, strainer2| is preferably removed from the open end of clogged drain pipe 22 andafter coupling member I3 is attached to spout IQ of faucet l5, plungercup I is placed over the entrance to drain pipe 22 and in contact withthe bottom of sink 20. By turning handle 25 of faucet l5 to direct waterthrough the device, such water after filling the tubing and plunger cupI, while the latter is held in place, will exert static pressure ondrain pipe 22. Then by grasping hollow pipe 4 and moving same up anddown in plunger fashion, a series of high pressure pulsations of watermoving under rotary flow will be impressed into the open end of drainpipe 22 thus producing dynamic fluid pressures .in surges exceeding thenormal static water pressure at the faucet. This action is highlyeflective in quickly opening drains which are plugged tighter than aconventional hand plunger will open, and at the same time moreeffectively opens and flushes drains where an ordinary hand plunger iscommonly used.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the articleand combination herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any ofthe following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup, means forconnecting said plunger cup to a suitable source of fluid supply, acheck valve, said check valve beingadapted to substantially prevent backflow of fluid through said connecting means toward said source ofsupply, and means to cause fluid flowing through said connecting meansinto said plunger cup to assume a curved path in the latter.

2. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup, means forconnecting said plunger cup to a suitable source of fluid supply, saidconnecting means and cup having a continuous fluid passagewaytherethrough, means to cause fluid flowing through said connecting meansinto said plunger cup to assume a curved path in the latter, and meansto substantially prevent fluid flow from said plunger cup back throughsaid connecting means.

3. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a relatively heavy walled,flexible, and resilient plunger 'cup having a hollow extending neck atthe apex thereof, a hollow tubular member acting as a fluid conduit andoperating handle, means for connecting the hollow extending neck of saidplunger cup to one end of said tubular member in manner forming asubstantially fluid tight joint therewith, means in said tubular memberto cause fluid' flowing therethrough to assume a spiral path, andflexible means to connect the other end of said tubular member to asuitable source of fluid supply for flow through said tubular memberinto said plunger cup.

4. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup having ahollow extending neck at the apex thereof, a hollow tubular member,means for connecting the hollow extending neck of said plunger cup toone end of said tubular member in manner forming a substantially fluidtight joint therewith, means in said tubular member to cause fluidflowing therethrough to assume a spiral path, a hollow nipple fittinginto the other end of said tubular member, a valve member in saidtubular member for substantially preventing fluid flow through saidtubular member into'said nipple, and a flexible means to connect theother end of said nipple tn 2. suitable source of fluid supply for flowthrough said tubular member into said plunger cup.

5. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which comprises a plunger cup, a rigidhollow tubular member connected at one end to the apex of said plungercup, a hollow nipple fitting the other end of said tubular member, aball bearing within said tubular member and adapted to abut the end ofsaid nipple for sealing purposes while permitting flow through saidtubular member into said plunger cup, means substantially restrictingsaid ball bearing to limited movement lengthwise of said tubular member,said limited movement of the ball bearing in said tubular memberfacilitating said fiuid flow as well as quick sealing on reverse flow,and suitable means to connect the other end of said nipple to a suitablesource of fluid supply for fiow through said tubular member into saidplunger cup.

6. A hydraulic drain cleaner, which consists of a resilient rubberplunger cup having a hollow extending neck at the apex thereof, a. rigidhollow tubular member, means for fastening the hollow extending neck ofsaid plunger cup to one end of said tubular member, a spiral membermounted in fixed position in said tubular member to cause rotary flow offluid delivered through said tubular member into said plunger cup, ahollow nipple fitting into the other end of said tubular member, the endof said nipple within said tubular member being internally beveled toform a. valve seat, a ball bearing within said tubular member, said ballbearing being adapted to cooperate with said seat for sealing purposeswhile permitting flow through said tubular member into said plungercup,,'a suitable rubber hose fixedly joined to the other end of saidnipple, and a coupling member fixedly joined to the opposite end of saidhose for connecting same to a suitable source of fluid supply.

JOSEPH LEYDEN.

